Bill Horton

5 Bill

Bill Horton has spent his career fighting for people who the system often overlooks—delivering results that stand among the largest in his field, including a $140 million verdict against the NCAA.

Since earning his law degree in 2001, Bill has helped clients across Arkansas and the country secure justice against corporations, insurers, and powerful institutions. His work spans catastrophic injury, wrongful death, trucking litigation, class actions, and complex cases where the stakes are highest.

Raised in Van Buren, Arkansas, Bill’s path into law was shaped early.
“Growing up poor, it became clear that the system wasn’t fair for folks like me—and I wanted to change that,” he says. That perspective still drives his work today.

Bill attended the University of Arkansas, earning a B.A. in History and a Master’s degree in Communication. In 1997, he was selected as a visiting scholar at St. Benet’s College at Oxford University, where he studied constitutional theory. He later earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas School of Law.

He is also a graduate of the prestigious Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College, an elite program dedicated to advanced trial advocacy and jury persuasion—skills that have become central to his success in the courtroom.

 

Results That Matter

Bill has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for his clients, including:

  • $140 million verdict – NCAA (Dallas)
  • $21.7 million – Class Action (Breach of Contract)
  • $16 million – Trucking Fatality
  • $6.5 million – Class Action
  • $4.5 million – Mesothelioma (Asbestos Exposure)
  • $3.66 million – Negligent Hiring / Dram Shop
  • $2.8 million – Mesothelioma
  • $1.75 million – Traumatic Brain Injury
  • $1.6 million – Clergy Sexual Abuse
  • $1.25 million – Motorcycle Crash
  • Multiple additional seven-figure recoveries in trucking, wrongful death, and class action cases

He has successfully handled cases across Arkansas and in jurisdictions including Texas, Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi, and New York—taking on major defendants and holding them accountable.

 

Outside of the Office

Outside of his practice, Bill is a passionate Razorback fan and can often be found tailgating at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in the fall, Bud Walton Arena in the winter, and Baum-Walker Stadium in the spring.

He is also an avid outdoorsman and motorcycle enthusiast. Since 2014, Bill has served as volunteer counsel to the Steel Horse Rally, helping guide its growth from an idea into a nationally recognized, family-friendly event that raises significant funds for local charities.

 

5 steel horse rally

To stay sharp, he reads presidential biographies. Bill lives in Rogers with his wife and son, their two dogs, Ellie Mae and Dixie Bell, and their cat, Tux.

 

Bar Admissions

 
  • State of Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri and Oklahoma
  • U. S. Court of Appeals Eighth Circuit
  • U. S. District Court Eastern District of Arkansas
  • U. S. District Court Western District of Arkansas
 

Education

 
  • J.D., Juris Doctorate, University of Arkansas Law School, Fayetteville, 2001
  • M.A. Communication, University of Arkansas, 2000
  • Visiting Scholar, St. Benet’s College, Oxford, U.K., 1997 – Constitutional Theory Emphasis
  • B.A. History, University of Arkansas, 1997
 

Professional Associations & Memberships

 
  • Arkansas Bar Association – Member
  • NW Delegate to Young Lawyers Section – Member
  • Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association – Member, Member Committee, Member Legislative Affairs Committee
  • American Bar Association – Member
  • American Association for Justice (AAJ) – Member
  • APITLA – Trucking Litigation Group Member
  • NWA Diabetes Kiss-A-Pig Committee
  • 2011 Kiss-A-Pig Candidate Raising Money for Diabetes
  • Benton County Bar Association
  • W.B. Putnam Inns of Court
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of NWA – Board Member
  • Rogers Noon Rotary – Member
  • Pound Institute
  • The Steel Horse Rally – Volunteer Counsel
 

Awards

 
  • National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Arkansas
  • National Trial Lawyers Top 40 under 40 in Arkansas
  • Super Lawyer Rising Star – Top 2.5% of Attorneys in the Mid-South – 2011-2013
  • Starthmore’s Who’s Who Among American Lawyers 2008-2013
  • Marquis Who’s Who Among American Lawyers 2008-2013
  • Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association Outstanding Member Young Lawyers Division 2007
  • International Public Debate Association Championship Tournament Top Speaker
  • Million Dollar Advocates Forum
  • Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
  • American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys – ’10 Best’ Client Satisfaction – 2015